Linking Excel and AutoCAD with Data Links

Arguably the most valuable tool in the modern-day engineer’s toolbox is Microsoft Excel. People love Excel so much that after its launch in 1985 Microsoft redesigned the rest of the Microsoft Office programs to look more like it. Microsoft Excel’s dominance is undoubtedly tied to its flexibility. After all, I think it’s fair to say that nearly all of us have at least one Excel table that is “wickedly complex”. The introduction of OLE objects, and more recently AutoCAD Tables were noble attempts to synchronize AutoCAD with Excel, but still fell short for many real-world needs. What engineers wanted and needed was bidirectional synchronization between AutoCAD and Excel. Among the new features packed within AutoCAD 2008 is just that capability through use of Data Links.

To set up Data Links:

  1. Launch the TABLE command.
  2. Click “From a data link“, and launch the “Data Link Manager” by clicking the button (illustrated).

  3. Click “Create a new Excel Data Link”

  4. Name the Data Link – something intuitive.

  5. Browse for your Excel Table

  6. The “New Excel Data Link” dialogue can be expanded by clicking the button in the bottom right corner.
  7. Under “Cell Contents”, uncheck “Convert data types to text”, and check both “Retain Formulas” and “Allow writing to source file”. Checking those options will make it so your Excel formulas will be preserved, and that you will be able to make edits to the table in AutoCAD, and they be populated to the origional Excel file.
  8. Press the [Ok] button 3 times to get out of the command, and insert your linked table.

  9. Assuming you checked the “Retain Formulas” option when setting up the Data Link, you’ll notice fields (text with a grey background) for any calculated value.

After inserting your Excel table, any updates made in the source Excel file will be updated in AutoCAD. By default however you will not be able to update data from AutoCAD, and have it update in the source Excel document. To modify a table value in AutoCAD, select a cell, right-click, and navigate down to “Locking”, and select “Unlock”.

After unlocking a cell, you can click into a cell, change a value. As a deliberate checks and balances, to update the Excel file, you must right-click once again, and select “Write Data Links to External Source“.

So there you have it, a quick run-through on how to harness the new Data Links in AutoCAD 2008. Stay tuned for more in AutoCAD 2008.

Update: If you found this post helpful, you might also be interested in my other post titled “Quickly Link Excel Tables to AutoCAD“. You can find it and all of my posts related to Microsoft Excel by clicking the Excel tag below.

Donnie Gladfelter
Donnie Gladfelter

Donnie is author of the book and Autodesk Official Press, AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT: No Experience Required, a columnist for AUGIWorld Magazine, Autodesk University speaker, and former member of the AUGI Board of Directors.

122 Comments

  5. Hello Donnie …
    I’ve just found your site and it is great …
    Please, can You help me understand how I can translate text in AutoCAD? (I am not an AutoCAD expert at all … I am just a translator) …

    There is something I know how to do …

    – I know for example how to to use the EXTRACT DATA wizard in order to extract TEXT only … In this way I can obtain an excel file I can easily translate (all of it or just part of it) …

    Now, my problem is … can I open the same DWG and IMPORT in this file the excel file I worked on in order to overnight my source text with my target one ??? I mean … First I had a dog with text in English … now I want to load in place of this text in English, the one I have put into the xls (let’s say Italian or Spanish, for example) … Can this be done, please!

    PLEASE … tell me I can!

    Many many thanks!
    Pietro

  6. Hi Donnie,

    I am now using AutoCAD 2013..Is it possible to change hatch layer via excel input through VBA or LISP? or maybe another method like MS Access etc..

    I have a plaza floor plan with each hatch for each unit (room) to represent unit type. I also have an Excel spreadsheet that contains room number in column A (001, 002, 003,…, etc) and unit type in column B (Small Shop, Food, Hypermarket, Cinema, Department Store, etc).

    Is is possible to update layers in AutoCAD automatically when we change unit type in column B? For example: Unit No. 001 change from Small Shop to Food, and Unit No. 005 change from Hypermarket to Cinema.., and then the layer in AutoCAD updates automatically. The floor plans contains about 300 units and 50 different layers to represent unit type. If this is possible, it would save the amount of time & effort than selecting hatch one by one and change the layer.

    I have never used VBA nor LISP before., but I eager to learn. I also don’t limit the solution for those 2 programming language, any clue will be much appreciated…

    Regards,
    Bagus

  7. I am trying to get spreadsheet cells to populate autocad dimensions, material type, and locations. is there an easy way to do that?

  8. I am wanted to link excel data in to autocad drawing in the form of cross section and long section of the canal & river i.e the elevation versus chainages in the x and y axis respevtively by
    changing the data in the document file it would have to change
    automaticaly in the autocad drawing itself that is the profile change.
    but i could not it? can you explain me the required problem through my
    e-mail please.

    • For tasks related to canals and rivers, I’d encourage you to look at AutoCAD Civil 3D instead of vanilla AutoCAD. Civil 3D has more options for working with point data (including x, y, & z information) than vanilla AutoCAD does. Even still, to make something as dynamic as you’re looking for would certainly take some creativity, as Civil 3D point imports are typically more of a static snapshot.

  9. i have one problem , i drawn 100 mm line ,but when i take dimension there should comes 500 mm dia as like possible there is in autocad

  10. I want to connect the excel data into autocad drawing in cross-sectional shape to draw a cross-sectional and longitudinal whether to send it in autocad 2007 if its application can be sent to me thanks imeal

    irbanalqhayri@yahoo.co.uk

  11. i am wanted to link excel data in to autocad drawing in the form of cross section of the river or canal i.e the elevation versus chainages in the x and y axis respevtively by changing the data in the document file it would have to change automaticaly in the autocad drawing 2007

  13. I have a fire map which got 700+ devices on it and each time we add/remove a device the whole numbering system gets changed. Therefore I am looking to link the device labels in autocad with excel spreadsheet and update the spreadsheet whenever we add/remove a fire device. I would really appriciate if somebody can give me some tips :)

  14. I want to link parameters of my excel table to an autoCAD drawing, ex. coordinates (x,y) to a map in autoCAD, can I do it?

  15. i am wanted to link excel data in to autocad drawing in the form of cross section of the river or canal i.e the elevation versus chainages in the x and y axis respevtively by changing the data in the document file it would have to change automaticaly in the autocad drawing itself that is the profile change. but i could not it? can you explain me the required problem through my e-mail please.

  16. how to link the CAD drawings names into excel? i.e. if I have series of drawings and want to change its names and the excel has already its names, so whatever I do in Cad, the excel will be updated according to CAD?? Same concept of (xref) in autoCAD.

  18. Is there a field that will extract data from one cell in a spreadsheet without using a table? Also, is there a way to insert a datalink table with the same cell dimensions as the original Excel file?

  19. Hi Donnie,
    I have around 10 excel links from excel sheets to autocad tables, for about 100 drawings. As in, I have just as many excel SHEETS as Autocad DRAWINGS, all named accordingly.

    To do this I made a block with these links, and using a script, inserted the same block into every drawing. All I have to do is open each drawing and change each of the 10 links to match the drawing/sheet which is open. (i am struggling to explain)

    I was hoping there would be a way of selecting all links at once and changing all 10 SHEETS to the correct one. (they are all pointing to the first sheet, because they are all the same exploded block).
    Believe it or not even changing each one individually, it is still saving me a lot of time but i was hoping it could be done a bit faster.

    Thanks
    Sigurd

  20. Donnie, thaks for sharing this post, i found it really useful. I have a problem uploading my changes to the excel table inserted in autocad to the original excel file. I tried to create a field with the area of a pline and I can upload it but when I modify the poliline and the field shows the new area, I click on update to source file and get the message:
    1 object(s) found.
    1 data link(s) could not be written out.
    0 data link(s) written out successfully.
    It happens only when the object to which the field is referred is modified after creating the field.

    Thanks

  21. I work with Windows 7 with VMware Fusion on Mac.
    My Excel is the Mac-version.

    I always get the message:
    The data link cannot be created because Excel cannot be found.

    I don’t know what to do… : (

  23. Problem I am having with the datalinking is that I have to open the excel spreadsheet and save and then open the drawing(s) I’m working on. If I dont do this the datalink within autocad will not work/ show correct up to date information.
    I’m using just a basic now() function for a date stamp to our project managers and engineers.
    It all works correctly except for this ‘hicup’.
    Please advise

    – Using AutoCad 2010

  25. I am looking for a way to link values from individual cells of the spreadsheet to text boxes inside an Autocad 2010 dwg (I have used this tutorial to successfully link spreadsheet from excel to autocad that will actively update, but I am having trouble pulling data from the speadsheet within the autocad dwg). I can use the “Formula” option from “insert field” in some cases but in some places I simply need for Autocad to duplicate a name or text filled cell. (This is where I have normally been able to use “insert field”, selected “object”, and used the “click selection icon” to tell Autocad what “text” or “multiline text” data to duplicate). This works between for linking “text” and “multiline text” boxes within the dwg will not acknowledge cells of the spread sheet that contain text rather than number values.

    Essentially I am setting up an excel spread sheet and will eventually link it to multiple Autocad dwg's that will need to pull data from the “master” excel file. When data is changed in a cell on the spread sheet it will be updating place values over multiple dwg files. (like I started to explain above, I can get the spreadsheet from excel to the multiple dwg's but I haven't been able to link data, mostly text data and oddly formated numbers that should be treated as a text entity, to designated places within the autocad dwg.)

  26. Has anyone figured out a way to link an Excel range that has hidden columns into acad2010 and successfully create a table that does not include the hidden cells? For example, my data range is A2:M22, but I do not want columns B-F to be included…is there any way to do this? I saw an earlier post suggesting pivot tables but that does not seem to work in this situation.

    A Second, unrelated question, has anyone scaled a linked table in acad only to need to insert rows into the table and have the new text come in at the original scale when updated? Is there a way to set the table so updates will come in at the proper scale?

    Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!!

  27. pangelo – If there is a way, I haven't discovered it yet. The best workaround I've been able to come up with is creating a dummy table that references the original (source) table to strip away any Excel formatting (backgrounds), and then reference that clean table into AutoCAD. Certainly not the preferred approach, but it's the best I've been able to come up with for now.

  28. Any one know how to paste an excel spread sheet into acad2010 and not have by background show thru the table? I have tried to use Background Fill and the table prints out all black.

  29. Hi I'm trying to link excel 2003 and Autocad 2009. and it seems to disappear at the last step. Link everything then go OK then nothing shows.

  30. Hi I'm trying to link excel 2003 and Autocad 2009. and it seems to disappear at the last step. Link everything then go OK then nothing shows.

  31. Hi there. Thanks for the tip. I have a question. Is possible to link data from a table in excel to a drawing in AutoCAD. Example: If a table value from row 50 is 50 then color its graphic (50) in red, if row 51 is 30 then 51 goes yellow in Autocad… its like coloring a population table but in Excel is on a table and in AutoCAD is a graphic that determing the area in a map. Thanks!

    • Renan – I won't say it cannot be done, but I am not aware of any way to do this from AutoCAD. You may be able to trick AutoCAD into doing something like this from Excel. As much as I hate to recommend it, your best option may be to paste your table as an OLE object.

  32. Hi there. Thanks for the tip. I have a question. Is possible to link data from a table in excel to a drawing in AutoCAD. Example: If a table value from row 50 is 50 then color its graphic (50) in red, if row 51 is 30 then 51 goes yellow in Autocad… its like coloring a population table but in Excel is on a table and in AutoCAD is a graphic that determing the area in a map. Thanks!

    • Renan – I won't say it cannot be done, but I am not aware of any way to do this from AutoCAD. You may be able to trick AutoCAD into doing something like this from Excel. As much as I hate to recommend it, your best option may be to paste your table as an OLE object.

  33. I have a question.

    I am trying to Data Link a spread sheet that has been filtered and i only want the filtered information to show. But when i import the sheet after filtering, it still shows all information that is on that sheet and not just the filtered information. Is there anyway i can make it show just the filtered information?

    • Try an Pivot Table to filter the Information. Within this you are able to select only the filtered information. HTH

  34. I have a question.

    I am trying to Data Link a spread sheet that has been filtered and i only want the filtered information to show. But when i import the sheet after filtering, it still shows all information that is on that sheet and not just the filtered information. Is there anyway i can make it show just the filtered information?

    • Try an Pivot Table to filter the Information. Within this you are able to select only the filtered information. HTH

  35. This is great stuff! Is there a way to populate a table cell from a spreadsheet using a dropdown or picklist? For example: given a column name “Color” I would like to be able to select Red, green or Blue from a list to poplulate the cells in that column with the Red, Green and Blue selections being read from a spreadsheet.

  36. This is great stuff! Is there a way to populate a table cell from a spreadsheet using a dropdown or picklist? For example: given a column name “Color” I would like to be able to select Red, green or Blue from a list to poplulate the cells in that column with the Red, Green and Blue selections being read from a spreadsheet.

  37. Help!! Please!!!
    My AutoCAD Revit MEP 2008 can not using the Data Links.
    I followed your sample.In step 4 appeared error.
    AutoCAD does not find the excel program.But I installed MS office.
    Please to help me solve this problem.
    Thanks you!!

  38. Help!! Please!!!
    My AutoCAD Revit MEP 2008 can not using the Data Links.
    I followed your sample.In step 4 appeared error.
    AutoCAD does not find the excel program.But I installed MS office.
    Please to help me solve this problem.
    Thanks you!!

  39. Hello! I wonder if you have this bug in 2010 – when I insert a table from Excel as a datalink, then scale it up – the green brackets become enormous and cover most of the table. Can this be resolved?

  40. Hello! I wonder if you have this bug in 2010 – when I insert a table from Excel as a datalink, then scale it up – the green brackets become enormous and cover most of the table. Can this be resolved?

  41. Is it possible to do the otherway round?
    I already made the table data in AUTOCAD but now I want to transport it to Excel so that in the future I just have to make amendments in Excel. I appreciate the help !

    • Edith – The answer to your question is sorta’. It won’t be dynamically linked, but we can export an AutoCAD table to a CSV file. To do that: select your table, right-click and select “Export”.

      Once you have a CSV file, you can import it into Excel; saving it as an XLS. From there you can use the procedure listed above to create a new linked table in AutoCAD. Doing this last part will dynamically link your AutoCAD table with your Excel table.

  42. Is it possible to do the otherway round?
    I already made the table data in AUTOCAD but now I want to transport it to Excel so that in the future I just have to make amendments in Excel. I appreciate the help !

    • Edith – The answer to your question is sorta’. It won’t be dynamically linked, but we can export an AutoCAD table to a CSV file. To do that: select your table, right-click and select “Export”.

      Once you have a CSV file, you can import it into Excel; saving it as an XLS. From there you can use the procedure listed above to create a new linked table in AutoCAD. Doing this last part will dynamically link your AutoCAD table with your Excel table.

  45. Does anyone know how to control option with the datalink programably I and create one and add a table but I want to be able to asign the range name to use from the spreadsheet and the insert options.

  46. Does anyone know how to control option with the datalink programably I and create one and add a table but I want to be able to asign the range name to use from the spreadsheet and the insert options.

  47. @Al – I haven’t done a lot of testing on this in 09, but I have run into issues with the type of complex tables you describe. The only “workaround” I have come up with is to create a simplified tab in Excel that references the complex tab.

  48. @Al – I haven’t done a lot of testing on this in 09, but I have run into issues with the type of complex tables you describe. The only “workaround” I have come up with is to create a simplified tab in Excel that references the complex tab.

  49. We are currently using AutoCad2009, I am able to create the table, however the Excel file we are trying to bring into Autocad is very complex, lots of hidden cells, merged cells, option buttons for different formulae choices etc…

    When we get the result in Autocad it does not look anything like it did in excel. Has anyone else experienced this and solved it?

    Thank you for your time.

    AL

  50. We are currently using AutoCad2009, I am able to create the table, however the Excel file we are trying to bring into Autocad is very complex, lots of hidden cells, merged cells, option buttons for different formulae choices etc…

    When we get the result in Autocad it does not look anything like it did in excel. Has anyone else experienced this and solved it?

    Thank you for your time.

    AL

  51. Sylo – I would encourage you to take a look at Sheet Set Manager. It has the ability to create a Sheet List Table. By default it just shows the Sheet Number and Title, but can be configured to show any combination of data (scales, drawn by, etc)

  52. Sylo – I would encourage you to take a look at Sheet Set Manager. It has the ability to create a Sheet List Table. By default it just shows the Sheet Number and Title, but can be configured to show any combination of data (scales, drawn by, etc)

  53. I want to create many layouts in Autocad 2008 with a table on its with some text field like the name of the table, the number of the table, the scale…
    I want that Autocad takes the info from an Excel sheet where the data are stored in many rows (name, number, scale…) for each layout.
    I can make a table with those data link on it but i wanna copy the table on each layout but it must take the data from the subsequent row.
    Example: The table 1 take the data from the row 1 of an Excel sheet and is on the layout 1. On the layout 2 the table is the same but it must take the data from row 2, on the layout 3 the table is the same but it must take the data from row 3, etc…
    So how can i edit the reference data link that are in the table automatically?
    Thanks in advance and excuse me for my english…
    Georg Ceci

  54. I want to create many layouts in Autocad 2008 with a table on its with some text field like the name of the table, the number of the table, the scale…
    I want that Autocad takes the info from an Excel sheet where the data are stored in many rows (name, number, scale…) for each layout.
    I can make a table with those data link on it but i wanna copy the table on each layout but it must take the data from the subsequent row.
    Example: The table 1 take the data from the row 1 of an Excel sheet and is on the layout 1. On the layout 2 the table is the same but it must take the data from row 2, on the layout 3 the table is the same but it must take the data from row 3, etc…
    So how can i edit the reference data link that are in the table automatically?
    Thanks in advance and excuse me for my english…
    Georg Ceci

  55. I posted the following Excel Data Link question on Autdesk forum without respone. Can anyone help me with this?

    When I move a drawing which is linked to an excel spreadsheet, I have issues with the path when I click on a cell to open the Data Link File. Is there a way to get Autocad to look in the current drawing directory for the spreadsheet? I’m always putting the spreadsheet in my directory with the drawing. I can open the excel file through my XRef utility fine. The problem only occurs when I click on a cell and then select open data link file. The path will be an old path that does not show up in my XRef utility.

  56. I posted the following Excel Data Link question on Autdesk forum without respone. Can anyone help me with this?

    When I move a drawing which is linked to an excel spreadsheet, I have issues with the path when I click on a cell to open the Data Link File. Is there a way to get Autocad to look in the current drawing directory for the spreadsheet? I’m always putting the spreadsheet in my directory with the drawing. I can open the excel file through my XRef utility fine. The problem only occurs when I click on a cell and then select open data link file. The path will be an old path that does not show up in my XRef utility.

  57. @nw – I personally do not have a copy of LT. So far as I know the linking feature outlined in this post is not available in LT. Your best bet may be to use OLE objects (which I think LT supports).

  58. @nw – I personally do not have a copy of LT. So far as I know the linking feature outlined in this post is not available in LT. Your best bet may be to use OLE objects (which I think LT supports).

  59. I have an autocad lt 2008 drawing and I want to be able to link it to an excel spreadsheet. I want to be able to make changes on the spreadsheet so it will change the details on the auotcad drawing. Is that possible?

  60. I have an autocad lt 2008 drawing and I want to be able to link it to an excel spreadsheet. I want to be able to make changes on the spreadsheet so it will change the details on the auotcad drawing. Is that possible?

  61. @ Vince – I do not know of an “out of the box” way of doing what you are talking about. As you alluded to, you would be better served developing a customization (VBA, .NET, LISP, etc).

    @ Javier – The illustration I have above is just one of the sample DWG/XLS’s shipped with AutoCAD. Nothing is actually linked to any real linework in the drawing. I haven’t tried it, but you may be able to unlock a cell, link it to some linework, and then write it back to the XLS. Haven’t personally tried that idea – so I’m not certain it can be done.

  62. @ Vince – I do not know of an “out of the box” way of doing what you are talking about. As you alluded to, you would be better served developing a customization (VBA, .NET, LISP, etc).

    @ Javier – The illustration I have above is just one of the sample DWG/XLS’s shipped with AutoCAD. Nothing is actually linked to any real linework in the drawing. I haven’t tried it, but you may be able to unlock a cell, link it to some linework, and then write it back to the XLS. Haven’t personally tried that idea – so I’m not certain it can be done.

  63. This is heaven. What was the formula that you used for linking the mesure of the line to the excel chart?

    Why are we still using ACAD for this kind of works when all the CAM ,type solid works an inventor, programs do this thing so easely… Stupid Companies that doesnt want to spend a few dollars more in having more time for other practical things an getting less mistakes

  64. This is heaven. What was the formula that you used for linking the mesure of the line to the excel chart?

    Why are we still using ACAD for this kind of works when all the CAM ,type solid works an inventor, programs do this thing so easely… Stupid Companies that doesnt want to spend a few dollars more in having more time for other practical things an getting less mistakes

  65. I have a question, sort of related to this. Is there anyway you can ask AutoCAD to grab the data from Excel sheet and display that value at certain coordinates in the AutoCAD Model space? Sounds like I need some VBA programing?

    ex. I have a value, 12, in cell A1. I’d like AutoCAD able to draw a point at coordinates (100,100) with a line and display “12” above the line. Also, AutoCAD drawing will be updated whenever there is changing values in Excel sheet.

  66. I have a question, sort of related to this. Is there anyway you can ask AutoCAD to grab the data from Excel sheet and display that value at certain coordinates in the AutoCAD Model space? Sounds like I need some VBA programing?

    ex. I have a value, 12, in cell A1. I’d like AutoCAD able to draw a point at coordinates (100,100) with a line and display “12” above the line. Also, AutoCAD drawing will be updated whenever there is changing values in Excel sheet.

  67. Don – AutoCAD 2008 was the first release to offer linked AutoCAD tables. Prior to AutoCAD 2008 the only option to create a linked table was to paste your Excel table as an OLE objects. Unlike a dynamically linked AutoCAD Table (2008 + Only), an OLE object is as you discovered a one-way link. You can’t modify the table in AutoCAD, instead you have to actually go and open it in Excel.

  68. Don – AutoCAD 2008 was the first release to offer linked AutoCAD tables. Prior to AutoCAD 2008 the only option to create a linked table was to paste your Excel table as an OLE objects. Unlike a dynamically linked AutoCAD Table (2008 + Only), an OLE object is as you discovered a one-way link. You can’t modify the table in AutoCAD, instead you have to actually go and open it in Excel.

  69. Donnie:
    I’m using AutoCAD 2007 and have been able to get a pasted Excel table to update in a drawing, although it is only one-way (cannot modify from the drawing and migrate back to the spreadsheet). I copied the table, “Paste special” as a link, and voila! It is not technically a static table, but the linking is one-way only. That may be what Davis mentioned in his post.

  70. Donnie:
    I’m using AutoCAD 2007 and have been able to get a pasted Excel table to update in a drawing, although it is only one-way (cannot modify from the drawing and migrate back to the spreadsheet). I copied the table, “Paste special” as a link, and voila! It is not technically a static table, but the linking is one-way only. That may be what Davis mentioned in his post.

  71. David – Short of using a third-party application I am unaware of any way to link an Excel table with an AutoCAD table before AutoCAD 2008. The closest way I know to link Excel and AutoCAD pre-2008 was to use a linked OLE object. Now we have been able to paste an Excel table into AutoCAD as an AutoCAD Table since the introduction of the TABLE command, but it was a static table (not linked to Excel in anyway). I’m curious – how did you link Excel and AutoCAD pre-2008?

  72. David – Short of using a third-party application I am unaware of any way to link an Excel table with an AutoCAD table before AutoCAD 2008. The closest way I know to link Excel and AutoCAD pre-2008 was to use a linked OLE object. Now we have been able to paste an Excel table into AutoCAD as an AutoCAD Table since the introduction of the TABLE command, but it was a static table (not linked to Excel in anyway). I’m curious – how did you link Excel and AutoCAD pre-2008?

  73. Actually the data link is available in autocad 2007 and possibly 06 as well, the main problem, for me anyways has been to keep my formatting for tables in autocad the same when i import a linked xcel file.

  74. Actually the data link is available in autocad 2007 and possibly 06 as well, the main problem, for me anyways has been to keep my formatting for tables in autocad the same when i import a linked xcel file.

  75. Richard – AutoCAD 2008 does not seem to have an option for XLSX files. You’ll need to save your Excel tables as a XLS (2003) file.

    Ilia – Per my e-mail, instead of switching the reference, try switching the file. Keep the reference unchanged, and simply backup the un-changed version of the file in a separate location. Then update the original.

  76. Richard – AutoCAD 2008 does not seem to have an option for XLSX files. You’ll need to save your Excel tables as a XLS (2003) file.

    Ilia – Per my e-mail, instead of switching the reference, try switching the file. Keep the reference unchanged, and simply backup the un-changed version of the file in a separate location. Then update the original.

  77. I am using AutoCAD 2008 and of course I took advantage of great new linking possibilities. I have linked number of cells (about 70 links) from single XL file to AutoCAD file. XL file is a template file with some calculations which can be used in different projects; therefore I need to create copy of this XL file and copy of AutoCAD file as well. Copy of AutoCAD file stays linked to original file (which is logical). My next step is to edit each data link and specify new source file (cell location in XL remains as in original file). By using Data Link Manager I can do this task one by one, it takes so long. Is there any better way to tell AutoCAD that new data will be linked with different file with same cell locations?
    Thank you for your help

  78. I am using AutoCAD 2008 and of course I took advantage of great new linking possibilities. I have linked number of cells (about 70 links) from single XL file to AutoCAD file. XL file is a template file with some calculations which can be used in different projects; therefore I need to create copy of this XL file and copy of AutoCAD file as well. Copy of AutoCAD file stays linked to original file (which is logical). My next step is to edit each data link and specify new source file (cell location in XL remains as in original file). By using Data Link Manager I can do this task one by one, it takes so long. Is there any better way to tell AutoCAD that new data will be linked with different file with same cell locations?
    Thank you for your help

  81. I am trying to create an autocad image with data points imported from excel. I am digitizing some automotive components and would like to see a picture of the data points displayed on the screen.

  82. I am trying to create an autocad image with data points imported from excel. I am digitizing some automotive components and would like to see a picture of the data points displayed on the screen.

  83. I noticed your note:
    Comment by Donnie Gladfelter on October 29, 2007 @ 7:06 pm

    The Excel linking feature is only available in 2008. Pre-2008 you would have to fall on a 3rd party package of some type. Another option is to create a linked OLE object.

    However, the OLE object is not close to what we are sssking.

    In your suggestion, you proposed seeking “a 3rd party package….” Please know I do not consider your positive response any endorsement, but can you please recommend one or 3 such 3rd party packages that I probably should check out so I can use this feature now before having access to 2008 in years to come?

  84. I noticed your note:
    Comment by Donnie Gladfelter on October 29, 2007 @ 7:06 pm

    The Excel linking feature is only available in 2008. Pre-2008 you would have to fall on a 3rd party package of some type. Another option is to create a linked OLE object.

    However, the OLE object is not close to what we are sssking.

    In your suggestion, you proposed seeking “a 3rd party package….” Please know I do not consider your positive response any endorsement, but can you please recommend one or 3 such 3rd party packages that I probably should check out so I can use this feature now before having access to 2008 in years to come?

  85. i am wanted to link excel data in to autocad drawing in the form of cross section of the river or canal i.e the elevation versus chainages in the x and y axis respevtively by changing the data in the document file it would have to change automaticaly in the autocad drawing itself that is the profile change. but i could not it? can you explain me the required problem through my e-mail please.

  86. i am wanted to link excel data in to autocad drawing in the form of cross section of the river or canal i.e the elevation versus chainages in the x and y axis respevtively by changing the data in the document file it would have to change automaticaly in the autocad drawing itself that is the profile change. but i could not it? can you explain me the required problem through my e-mail please.

    • hi im also searching the internet for that too. my prob to how to link excel and auto cad to draw a road cross section. but still i cant find the answer….

  87. Thanks for the information, but I can’t even get a table into CAD let alone edit it. I keep getting asked if I want to save the changes I have made to my specified excel file, and when I say yes, it trys to save a copy of the file, not the actual file. Even the preview is not coming in when I give it the correct name range and sheet name. Do you know what the problem could be? Thanks.

  88. Thanks for the information, but I can’t even get a table into CAD let alone edit it. I keep getting asked if I want to save the changes I have made to my specified excel file, and when I say yes, it trys to save a copy of the file, not the actual file. Even the preview is not coming in when I give it the correct name range and sheet name. Do you know what the problem could be? Thanks.

  91. I have one question. The question is whether it (to export data from excel on autocad) is applicable in new version of autocad ie. autocad-2008 or other version too.

  92. I have one question. The question is whether it (to export data from excel on autocad) is applicable in new version of autocad ie. autocad-2008 or other version too.

  95. I am trying to figure out how to retain the formatting of the autocad table and still get the info from the excel table into it. Simply unclicking the retain excel formatting button does not work.

  96. I am trying to figure out how to retain the formatting of the autocad table and still get the info from the excel table into it. Simply unclicking the retain excel formatting button does not work.

  97. I also have a question:)
    Can I make a crossection, which data (coordinates )will be written in excel and then plot a polyline in autocad drawing along with table data..

  98. I also have a question:)
    Can I make a crossection, which data (coordinates )will be written in excel and then plot a polyline in autocad drawing along with table data..

  99. That’s an awesome way to do it! But I’m wondering how to actually rotate some parts of the table. For example, I want to be able to plot turning movements for an intersection…NBL, NBT, NBR, SBL, SBT, SBR, EBL, EBT, EBR, WBL, WBT, WBR with their proper orientation and everything, and make it for multiple intersections. But it should also allow for a user to make changes.

    thanks in advance for your help.

  100. That’s an awesome way to do it! But I’m wondering how to actually rotate some parts of the table. For example, I want to be able to plot turning movements for an intersection…NBL, NBT, NBR, SBL, SBT, SBR, EBL, EBT, EBR, WBL, WBT, WBR with their proper orientation and everything, and make it for multiple intersections. But it should also allow for a user to make changes.

    thanks in advance for your help.

  101. Krushert – glad to hear you enjoyed the article. You pose an interesting question that I must admit made me curious. Just for testing purposes, I drew a line to see if I could get its length into the table, and back into Excel. The short answer is that it can be done.

    As outlined in my post – I unlocked the cell. After doing that and clicking into I right-clicked, selecting “Insert Field”. I configured my field to look at the length of the line I drew, and its length was placed in my table. Finally I selected my table, and specified “Write Data Links to External Source”. The length of my line was in the Excel table when I opened it in Excel. Pretty novel find, thanks for the suggestion.

  102. Krushert – glad to hear you enjoyed the article. You pose an interesting question that I must admit made me curious. Just for testing purposes, I drew a line to see if I could get its length into the table, and back into Excel. The short answer is that it can be done.

    As outlined in my post – I unlocked the cell. After doing that and clicking into I right-clicked, selecting “Insert Field”. I configured my field to look at the length of the line I drew, and its length was placed in my table. Finally I selected my table, and specified “Write Data Links to External Source”. The length of my line was in the Excel table when I opened it in Excel. Pretty novel find, thanks for the suggestion.

    •  Dear Donnie,
      A question for you. I’m using ACAD 2007 and am unable to link in the entire copied spreadsheet as an OLE Obj or by using paste special… i.e. if i copy and paste the entire sheet, and pastespec it into ACAD, only a portion of it is retained in ACAD. i tried to link the entire thing as an OLE obj and again only that same portion was retained.
      Can you please help?

  103. Excellent Article. I have a question becuase I haven’t seen it posted anywhere. For the record, I am playing with ADT 2007 with 2008 Arch scheduled to be installed soon. (should be the same – I think)

    Can the table pull data from objects and feed that data to an excel spread sheet? It doesn’t seem to that is an option?

  104. Excellent Article. I have a question becuase I haven’t seen it posted anywhere. For the record, I am playing with ADT 2007 with 2008 Arch scheduled to be installed soon. (should be the same – I think)

    Can the table pull data from objects and feed that data to an excel spread sheet? It doesn’t seem to that is an option?

    • what i want is to import my points in excell sheet to lay out to autocad in one time

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